What are the late stages of syphilis?
What are the late stages of syphilis?
About 15% to 30% of people infected with syphilis who don’t get treatment will develop complications known as tertiary syphilis. In the late stage, the disease may damage the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones and joints. These problems may occur many years after the original, untreated infection.
What disabilities does the tertiary stage of syphilis cause?
About one-third of cases of latent syphilis progress to tertiary syphilis. Tertiary syphilis — In this stage, syphilis bacteria can cause severe damage to many different internal organs, including the brain and spinal cord. It usually begins within 10 years of infection and can end in death.
Can syphilis cause brain damage?
If syphilis goes untreated, the affected person is at risk of developing neurosyphilis. This is an infection of the nervous system, specifically of the brain and the spinal cord. Neurosyphilis is a life-threatening disease.
How long do the stages of syphilis last?
Chancres typically show up anywhere between 3 weeks and 3 months after you get the infection. The sores usually last about 3 to 6 weeks and then go away on their own — with or without treatment. But if you don’t get treated, you still have syphilis, even if the sores are gone.
What is the window period of syphilis?
The average window period or incubation period for syphilis is about three to six weeks. If you get tested earlier than this period, you should test again within the window period to confirm your results.
What are the symptoms of late stage syphilis?
Symptoms of late stage or tertiary syphilis can occur 2 to 30+ years after infection. Complications during this stage can include: gummas (small bumps or tumors that can develop on the skin, bones, liver or any other organ), problems with heart and blood vessels, or chronic nervous system disorders, such as blindness, insanity and paralysis.
Is there a cure for syphilis?
Late stage syphilis can be cured but the damage done to the body is permanent. Syphilis can invade the nervous system at any stage of infection, and causes a wide range of symptoms, including headache, altered behavior, difficulty coordinating muscle movements, paralysis, sensory deficits,…
How long does it take for syphilis to progress?
Latent (hidden) stage If untreated, an infected person will progress to the latent (hidden) stage of syphilis. After the secondary-stage rash goes away, the person will not have any symptoms for a time (latent period). The latent period may be as brief as 1 year or range from 5 to 20 years.
Are You contagious during the stages of syphilis?
You’re not contagious during this stage, but syphilis may still affect your heart, brain, nerves, bones, and other parts of your body. This phase can last for years. Not everyone who has syphilis will enter this phase of the infection. Some people will go into the tertiary stage. This stage begins when symptoms from the secondary stage disappear.
